Citation Nr: 18156040
Decision Date: 12/06/18	Archive Date: 12/06/18

DOCKET NO. 15-19 818
DATE:	December 6, 2018
ORDER
Service connection for hearing loss disability is granted.
FINDING OF FACT
Hearing loss disability is attributable to combat service .
CONCLUSION OF LAW
Hearing loss disability was incurred in combat service.  38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1154.
REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION
The Veteran honorably served on active duty from May 1968 to March 1970. This matter is before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a rating September 2010 decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Chicago, Illinois.
The Veteran requested a hearing before the Board in his April 2015 substantive appeal (VA Form 9); however, VA electronic systems reflect that the Veteran cancelled this hearing.  
The Veteran has appealed the denial of service connection for hearing loss disability.  The combat provisions of section 1154 are applicable.  Exposure to noise and hearing loss due to such exposure are consistent with the nature of combat service.
Here, the appellant has a Silver Star. He has presented adequate lay evidence of noise exposure and hearing loss starting in service and continuing after service.
There is no reason to ignore the combat provisions of the law and service connection is granted.

 
H. N. SCHWARTZ
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Department of Veterans Affairs